Aesop's Fables (Penguin Classics) - Aesop [2]
CXLII
The Bull and the Goat
CXLIII
The Old Man and Death
CXLIV
The Dog and the Hare
CXLVL
The Boy and the Hazel Nuts
CXLVI
The Wolf and the Shepherd
CXLVII
The Jackass and the Statue
CXLVIII
The Blacksmith and His Dog
CXLIX
The Herdsman and the Lost Calf
CL
The Lion and the Other Beasts Who Went Out Hunting
CLI
The Bees, the Drones, and the Wasp
CLII
The Kid and the Piping Wolf
CLIII
The Stallion and the Ass
CLIV
The Mice and the Weasels
CLV
The Stubborn Goat and the Goatherd
CLVI
The Boys and the Frogs
CLVII
The Mouse and the Weasel
CLVIII
The Farmer and the Lion
CLIX
The Horse and the Loaded Ass
CLX
The Wolf and the Lion
CLXI
The Farmer and the Dogs
CLXII
The Eagle and the Crow
CLXIII
The Lion and His Three Councillors
CLXIV
The Great and Little Fish
CLXV
The Ass, the Cock, and the Lion
CLXVI
The Wolf and the Goat
CLXVII
The Fox and the Stork
CLXVIII
The Leopard and the Fox
CLXIX
The Vine and the Goat
CLXX
The Sick Lion
CLXXI
The Rivers and the Sea
CLXXII
The Blackamoor
CLXXIII
The Boy and the Nettle
CLXXIV
The Seaside Travelers
CLXXV
The Boy Who Went Swimming
CLXXVI
The Sick Hawk
CLXXVII
The Monkey and the Fishermen
CLXXVIII
Venus and the Cat
CLXXIX
The Three Tradesmen
CLXXX
The Ass’s Shadow
CLXXXI
The Eagle and the Beetle
CLXXXII
The Lion and the Three Bulls
CLXXXIII
The Old Woman and Her Maids
CLXXXIV
The Dogs and the Hides
CLXXXV
The Dove and the Ant
CLXXXVI
The Old Lion
CLXXXVII
The Wolf and the Shepherds
CLXXXVIII
The Ass in the Lion’s Skin
CLXXXIX
The Swallow in Chancery
CXC
The Raven and the Swan
CXCI
The Wild Boar and the Fox
CXCII
The Stag at the Pool
CXCIII
The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing
CXCIV
The Boasting Traveler
CXCV
The Man and His Two Wives
CXCVI
The Shepherd and the Sea
CXCVII
The Miser
CXCVIII
Mercury and the Sculptor
CXCIX
The Miller, His Son, and Their Ass
CC
The Wolf and the Horse
CCI
The Astronomer
CCII
The Hunter and the Woodcutter
CCIII
The Fox and the Crow
I
The Fox and the Grapes
A famished fox crept into a vineyard where ripe, luscious grapes were draped high upon arbors in a most tempting display. In his effort to win a juicy prize, the fox jumped and sprang many times but failed in all his attempts. When he finally had to admit defeat, he retreated and muttered to himself, “Well, what does it matter anyway? The grapes are sour!”
It is easy to despise what you cannot get.
II
The Wolf and the Crane
A wolf devoured his prey so ravenously that a bone got stuck in his throat, and in extreme agony, he ran and howled throughout the forest, beseeching every animal he met to pull out the bone. He even offered a generous reward to anyone who succeeded in pulling it out. Moved by his pleas as well as the prospect of the money, a crane ventured her long neck down the wolf’s throat and drew out the bone. She then modestly asked for the promised reward, but the wolf just grinned and bared his teeth.
“Ungrateful creature!” he replied with seeming indignation. “How dare you ask for any other reward than your life? After all, you’re among the very few who can say that you’ve put your head into the jaws of a wolf and were permitted to draw it out in safety.”
Expect no reward when you serve the wicked, and be thankful if you escape injury for your pains.
III
The Archer and the Lion
An archer, known for his skill with bow and arrow, went to the mountains in search of game. When he entered the wilderness, all the beasts of the forest became terrified and took flight. Only the lion challenged him to combat, whereupon the archer immediately launched an arrow and cried out, “My messenger has something to say to you!”
The lion was wounded in the side, and smarting with pain, he fled deep into the thickets. When a fox saw him running away, however, he encouraged him to turn and face his enemy.
“No,” said the lion, “there’s no way you can persuade me to fight. Just think, if a mere messenger can do as much damage as he’s already done, how shall I withstand the